Bentley > Case Studies > TRC's Collaborative 3D Modeling for South Street Substation Upgrade

TRC's Collaborative 3D Modeling for South Street Substation Upgrade

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Technology Category
  • Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
  • Robots - Collaborative Robots
Applicable Industries
  • Cement
  • Utilities
Applicable Functions
  • Procurement
  • Product Research & Development
Use Cases
  • Construction Management
  • Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing
Services
  • System Integration
About The Customer
The customer, National Grid, is a utility company committed to delivering safe, reliable electricity to Providence, Rhode Island. As part of its commitment, National Grid initiated a project to replace the nearly 100-year-old South Street Substation. The project was aimed at accommodating the electrical needs of future downtown development. National Grid awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to TRC, an engineering, environmental consulting, and construction management firm. The project represented National Grid’s ability to provide critical upgrades to their infrastructure in a congested urban area to increase reliability and capacity for their customers.
The Challenge
National Grid, a utility company, initiated a project to replace the nearly 100-year-old South Street Substation in Providence, Rhode Island. The project involved rebuilding the 115/11.5/23-kilovolt indoor substation and relocating it to a congested area of Providence. The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract was awarded to TRC, an engineering, environmental consulting, and construction management firm. The contract required the removal and conversion of three 115-kilovolt overhead supply lines to underground cable circuits, rerouting of 27 existing 23-kilovolt and 11-kilovolt feeders from the old facility to the new substation, and rewiring of 47 sets of cables and 60 pieces of switchgear. The project presented numerous design and coordination challenges, including an aggressive timeline, tight budget, and the need to integrate existing conditions with the new construction while keeping the original substation operational.
The Solution
To overcome the challenges, TRC implemented collaborative 3D modeling using Bentley software. The software allowed TRC to incorporate numerous architectural, structural, and mechanical subcontractor files in CAD, Revit, and other file formats, as well as its own 3D files, into the substation design. ProjectWise and Bentley Substation were used for file sharing, secure storage, and creating a single source of truth for all project data. Bentley Substation allowed TRC to incorporate critical information from various 3D design platforms to achieve a fully integrated design model. The model was used for cross-discipline checking and to meet National Grid’s requirement for deliverables as a 2D MicroStation file. Bentley’s electric substation modeling software facilitated design integration and provided significant insight to optimize the substation design. The 3D models were used for full walkthroughs of the station with the client, architectural renderings for the planning board and public comment, and to identify issues prior to construction.
Operational Impact
  • The use of Bentley’s collaborative project management and modeling technology facilitated seamless information sharing, regardless of location, and the creation of a comprehensive 3D design. The 3D models enhanced client understanding for a more efficient and effective review of the interior and exterior designs. The models were also used in architectural renderings for the planning board and for public comment. The fully integrated design model optimized cross-discipline reviews and clash detection, enabling a proactive design approach. This approach eliminated construction delays and costly overruns, ensuring the project was delivered timely and within budget. The successful delivery of the new South Street Substation will prepare and promote the planned city growth and future I-195 redevelopment initiatives because a reliable energy source is essential for economic development in Providence.
Quantitative Benefit
  • TRC collaborated on over 2,000 CAD files and files in third-party formats.
  • TRC identified a misalignment by integrating design files from the busway contractor into the Bentley Substation master 3D model, which was corrected by the subcontractor prior to fabrication.
  • TRC resolved several areas requiring redesign due to interferences during the design phase, saving significant time otherwise spent on reengineering a solution or waiting for a redesigned assembly on site during fabrication, installation, or construction.

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